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Although a solemn occasion and not a joyous celebration, the march is still colourful and lively.

The procession - which stopped at regular intervals for self-flagellation rituals where the men chanted and beat their chests with their hands in a synchronised, rhythmic act of mourning - took around four hours to move along the street to Mehfile Abbas mosque in Clifton Road.

Some of the women carried a shrine and the worshippers also led a horse dressed to represent Zuljina, the horse of Hussain ibn Ali which was reared by the Prophet Muhammad.

The procession comes close to the date of the Battle of Karbala on October 10, 680 AD.

A spokesman said: "The processions aims to highlight the tragedy of Karbala to non-Muslims through poems and eulogies read in public, as well as handing out leaflets to members of the public who may be inspired by Hussain’s story.

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Muslims in Birmingham

At the end of the 40-day period of mourning is the Arba'een Pilgrimage, on the 20th day of the month of Safar, which sees around 25 million people walk to Karbala, from cities as far as Basra - more than 300 miles away.